“The way you look when I spread your legs, sweetheart,” Hades growled.
“H-How do I look?” It felt as though all the air was escaping the kitchen, when Hades hauled Aaren’s ass to the counter’s edge and stepped between his legs, forcing them to open wider around him.
“Your pupils dilate,” Hades said quietly. “Your mouth falls open, and your breathing goes shallow. You grew wet, didn’t you?”
Aaren’s hole fluttered. “A little.”
“Beautiful.” Hades leaned in, brushing their noses together. Then he slanted his lips over Aaren’s.
Truth be told, Aaren didn’t think he would ever grow tired of kissing Hades. There was something seductive about Hades’ kisses, the way he slid their mouths together so friction exploded between them. He sucked on Aaren’s lower lip, flicking histongue against it. He grazed that sensitive flesh with his teeth, then slid his tongue into Aaren’s mouth, softly at first, before thrusting in possessively like he was claiming Aaren with his cock.
As he stole the breath from Aaren’s lungs, Hades slipped his hands under Aaren’s shirt, dragging his wrists up Aaren’s back to cover him in his scent. He marked Aaren’s arms too, then slid his hands up the front of Aaren’s shirt, trailing his wrists over Aaren’s belly to his chest. He ground his wrists against Aaren’s nipples, rubbing pleasure into both pebbled nubs.
“You don’t mind my belly?” Aaren mumbled into Hades’ mouth. “It’s... not flat.”
“More for me.” Hades cupped Aaren’s belly with both hands, squeezing him there. He squeezed Aaren’s thighs too, kneading the soft flesh. All his touches felt careful, lingering and reverent. It was nothing like Aaren had experienced before.
How long will this last?asked a little voice in his head.How long until Hades gets tired of me?
Aside from his ability to cook, Aaren wasn’t much. He got excited easily and made stupid mistakes; he wasn’t wise or financially stable like Hades. Surely there were more capable omegas out there, omegas who were prettier and less of a disaster than Aaren was.
He could ask. But what if Hades hadn’t thought about this before, and Aaren’s asking made him remember all his other options?
Hades pulled back, frowning as he looked into Aaren’s eyes. “Sweetheart? What’s wrong?”
Aaren made a face. Crap. “Um. The counter is too hard?”
A huff. “Try again.”
Aaren stared at Hades’ chest, afraid of meeting his eyes. “You didn’t—and you still don’t—have to pick me. What if you grow tired of me and go away? I mean, it’s not like I can tell you how to feel about me. We’ve only known each other for a few days. But I’m scared that you’ll leave. This is the sort of thing we’re not supposed to talk about, right? No one is supposed to make promises this soon.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Hades cupped Aaren’s face with both hands, tipping his head back so he could look into Aaren’s eyes. “I’ll be here as long as you need me.”
“But... you don’t need me.”
Hades raised an eyebrow, gesturing behind himself. “Do you see a line of omegas waiting for me?”
“Well, they haven’t met you. They’d be queuing up if you hold a meet and greet.”
“Ha. That line will be halved just because I’m an ex-con. And halved again because I’m not... I can get violent with other alphas, you know. I have blood on my hands.” Hades didn’t even look regretful.
Aaren swallowed. “You’re not hurting innocent people, right?”
Hades shook his head. “No.”
“Then I think you’re fine.”
Hades exhaled. “Just like that? Really?”
“I know there are alphas out there who suck,” Aaren muttered. “If you want to hurt them, I’m not stopping you. Except for Ballus because I want my inheritance.”
Hades snorted. “Well, I’m not going to argue with that, if it means I get to keep you.” He lowered his gaze. “Sometimes... Sometimes I get lonely, you know. My friends have been pairing up left and right. They’re spending more time with their omegas than me these days.”
Yeah, Aaren could understand that. He still believed Hades could have his pick of omegas, but... It was better not to think about that right now.
It wasn’t as though Hades had offered to give Aaren his bonding mark.
He curled his fingers into Hades’ shirt, tugging him closer. “I still have a bit of time before my shift starts. Will you touch me again?”
